Steam superheater



March 18, 1941. J H BROWN STEAM SUPERHEATER Original Filed June 12, 1939 H411 HW- Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNITED STATE Fries Original application June 12, 1939, Serial No. 278,767. Divided and this application June 13,

1940, Serial No. 340,349

2' Claims. (ill. 122-469) This invention relates to steam superheaters of the heating tube type designed for use in conjunction with steam generators.

An important object of my invention is topro- 1 vide a steam superheater of simple and economical construction adapted to be readily assembled with a steam .generator of the type disclosed in my copending application Serial Number 278,767 (now Patent No. 2,207,654 granted July 9, 1940),

; of which the present application is a division.

Another object of my invention is to provide a steam superheater of the above character so constructed and arranged as to cause the steam entering the superheater from the boiler to impinge upon a bafile to remove excessive moisture therefrom and return this moisture to the boiler.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a superheater of the above character in which the heating tubes are interposed in line with the flue carrying ofi the waste combustion gases from the steam generator so that these hot gases are caused to flow across the tubes at a steep angle, such as is conducive to the most efficient transfer of heat from the gases to the steam flowing through the tubes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a steam generator having a superheater associated therewith;

Figure 2 is an end view of the superheater of Fig. 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the superheater and showing its manner of assembly with the top of the steam generator.

Referring now to the drawing, in Fig. 1 is illustrated a steam generator G upon the top which is associated a superheater S. The steam generator is more particularly described in my copending application above-referred to and includes a neck I projecting above the top of the generator and constituting a flue or stack for carrying oil the waste combustion gases from the burner that is used for heating the generator.

The superheater comprises a horizontally disposed metal drum 2 closed at both ends by dished end plates 3 bolted to circumferential flanges upon the ends of the drum. A sleeve 4 surrounding an opening through the wall of the drum intermediate its length telescopes over the upper end of the neck I which projects above the generator, thus afiording direct communication between the neck and the interior of the drum.

A pair of transverse laterally-spaced partition plates 5 and 5a divide the drum into three compartments, namely a steam inlet compartment 6 at one end of the drum, an intermediate flue compartment l, which is in communication with the neck through sleeve l, and a steam outlet compartment 8 located at the other end of the drum. The steam inlet compartment communicates with the steam generator through a pair of flanged couplings 9 and 9a which are bolted together and which together extend vertically between an opening in the top or steam dome of the generator and an opening through the circumferential wall of the drum.

Extending longitudinally through the flue compartment l and opening through the partition plates 5 and 5a are a series of heat transfer tubes II for the passage of steam from the steam in-. let compartment 6 into the steam outlet compartment 8. The flue compartment at one end has an offtake II which may lead to a stack venting to the atmosphere. Abaffle I2 is suitably provided in the steam inlet compartment in the path oi the steam from the generator to remove moisture carried in suspension, and such moisture may drain back into the generator through the couplings 9 and 9a.

The arrangement is such that the waste flue gases leaving the steam generator by way of the neck I enter the flue compartment 1 of the superheater where they flow across the heat transfer tubes 9 at approximately right angles thereto and give up a large part of their residual heat to these tubes and hence to the steam passing through the tubes. The offtake H is located out-of-line with the neck I so as to insure the complete bathing of the tubes by the flue gases before the latter leave the compartment.

The steam from the steam generator enters the steam inlet compartment through the straight vertical passageway provided by the flanged couplings 9 and 9a. This steam impinges upon the baffle plate 82 so that the moisture carried in suspension is given up by the steam and collects on the battle plate from which it drips into the bottom of the compartment and eventually drains back into the steam generator. The temperature of the steam in passing through the heat transfer tubes is raised and upon entering the steam outlet compartment is drier and hotter than when it entered the tubes.

This hot steam leaves the steam outlet compartment 8 via a duct l3 leading oil from this compartment and communicating With the system to which the steam is to be furnished, as for example a house heating system. The superheater may be marketed as a separate unit for assembly with steam generators of the general type described or the superheater may form a unitary part of the generator. In any event the construction is simple and its operation etflcient. By simply removing the end plates 3 access is provided to the tubes for cleaning or repair.

Manifestly the invention is capable of embodiment in forms other than that described above which is to be regarded as exemplary rather than as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. A steam superheater comprising a cylindrical drum adapted to be disposed in a horizontal position, dished end plates removably bolted to and closing the ends of the drum, a pair of partition walls dividing said drum into a steam inlet compartment, an intermediate flue compartment and a steam outlet compartment, a series of heat-transfer tubes extending between and opening through the partition walls, a passage opening through the circumferential wall of the drum for the introduction of hot flue gases into the flue compartment in a direction at approximately right angles to the heat-transfer tubes, a sleeve surrounding said passage externally of the drum and adapted to encircle and engage a flue for supporting the superheater in position, an offtake opening through the circumferential Wall of the drum upon the opposite side of the drum from said passage but laterally 01T- set therefrom for the removal of flue gases from said flue compartment, an opening through the circumferential Wall of the steam inlet compartment for the introduction of steam therein and the removal of condensate therefrom, a baffle within said steam inlet compartment located at an angle to and in line with said opening, and a duct leading off through the circumferential wall of the steam outlet compartment for the removal of steam therefrom.

2. The combination with a steam generator of the type having a vertically disposed neck constituting a flue for leading oif the waste flue gases from the generator, of a steam superheater adapted to be supported in horizontal position above the generator, said superheater comprising a cylindrical drum, dished end plates removably bolted to and closing the ends of the drum, a pair of partition walls dividing said drum into a steam inlet compartment, an inter: mediate flue compartment and a steam outlet compartment, a series of heat-transfer tubes extending between and opening through the partition walls, a passage opening through the circumferential wall of the drum for the introduction of hot flue gases into the flue compartment in a direction at approximately right angles to the heat-transfer tubes, a sleeve surrounding said passage and adapted to encircle and engage the neck of the steam generator for supporting the superheater in position, an oiftake opening through the circumferential wall of the drum approximately diametrically located with respect to said passage for the removal of flue gases from said flue compartment, an opening through the circumferential Wall of the steam inlet compartment for the introduction of steam therein, a baflle within said steam inlet compartment located at an angle to and in line with said opening, coupling members providing communication between said opening and the steam generator, and a duct leading off through the circumferential Wall of the steam outlet compartment for the -removal of steam therefrom.

JOHN H. BROWN. 

